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Wisconsin briefs

Workshops help ag professionals coach clients through current 'rough patch'

The tight financial margins that many farmers currently face can lead to stress which can have a negative impact on a farmer’s personal, family and work life.

To help agricultural professionals who work with farmers dealing with tight margins and the subsequent stress it may cause, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection is co-sponsoring a series of workshops called “Coaching Your Clients Through This Rough Patch.” Designed to provide strategies for working with stressed producers, and to share resources available to farm families, the workshops will be offered in five locations in late October.

This series of workshops is co-sponsored by the University of Wisconsin’s Center for Dairy Profitability, UW-Extension's FARM Team, and DATCP’s Farm Center.

The Farm Center, part of DATCP’s Division of Agricultural Development, is dedicated to growing Wisconsin agriculture. Its mission, simply stated, is to help farmers.

“The Farm Center’s team of agricultural economic development consultants help all types of Wisconsin farmers deal with the critical economic, business and social needs of farm families,” said Kathy Schmitt, Farm Center director. “Services provided include financial and business consultation, farm succession planning, conflict mediation, and other assistance. This workshop series – ‘Coaching your Clients Through This Rough Patch – falls directly within the scope of our services and we are pleased to be able to assist in offering strategies for working with financially strained producers.”

More information, including registration information for agriculture professionals, is available here.

Stevens Point

Free Pumpkins for Charities

Central Wisconsin charities again have the option this year to receive a donation of Fall decorations from a local business: cornstalks, gourds, and pumpkins of all colors and sizes.

Knowing that many children and families will get pumpkins at this time of year when they might not normally be able to is very rewarding.

With a deep love for gardening, Andy Thompson loves to grow pumpkins. The bigger the pumpkin patch the better. But with this comes a lot of pumpkins and at this time of year, Andy loves to give his pumpkins away by donating to local charities and nonprofit organizations.

His wife, Alesha and he have a business, Elevate Group LLC, that does business as PuzzleBuddy (www.puzzlebuddy.com) and Point Pumpkin Patch. They sell some pumpkins to offset the costs of the pumpkin patch, but 90% of the ten thousand or so pumpkins goes directly to charities and nonprofit organizations.

Those interested can arrange for their charitable organization to get pumpkins by scheduling through poiuntpumpkins@gmail.com or calling 715-252-4277. The patch is located at 7409 4th street about 1.5 miles east of Arnott in Portage County. Be prepared to do some picking and enjoy the beautiful Fall weather.

MANITOWOC

Six dairy animals stolen from farm

A cash reward from the Manitowoc County Sheriff's Department is being offered for information about six cows stolen from an area farm.

The cattle, estimated to be worth $10,000, were taken from a farm on Marquette Road between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., Sept. 7. The farmer and police found tracks from a truck and trailer which do not belong to the farmer.

According to Sheriff Robert Hermann, an adult Jersey cow, a Holstein heifer, a Jersey-cross heifer and three calf heifers were stolen.

The $500 cash reward through the Crime Stoppers program will be for information leading to the arrest of those responsible.

The public is invited to join Department of Natural Resources staff and other members of the Chronic Wasting Disease Response Plan Review Committee Oct. 27 as they discuss and assess the first five years of the DNR's 2010-2025 CWD Response Plan.

The October committee meeting, the first of three this fall, will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Lussier Family Heritage Center, 3101 Lake Farm Road, Madison. Additional meeting information will be listed on the DNR public meetings calendar (search keywords "CWD Response Plan Review") when meetings are finalized.
The CWD Response Plan Review Committee will revisit the current CWD Response Plan, discuss research and disease management in Wisconsin, and provide recommendations for the next five years.
These meetings, aimed at improving public engagement and transparency in addressing CWD, include seeking public input through County Deer Advisory Council meetings. A wide range of topics related to CWD, including Best Management Practices for the captive cervid industry, will be discussed during committee meetings.
The review committee consists of several governmental agencies and key partner organizations with an interest in CWD management in Wisconsin. This public involvement process is being coordinated jointly by DNR, the Wisconsin Conservation Congress and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
Committee recommendations will be posted online for public comment following the final meeting. Following the public comment period, plan recommendations will be the topic of discussion at each county's CDAC meeting in January 2017. Final recommendations will be submitted for approval by the DNR to the Natural Resources Board in March 2017.
To learn more about the CWD Response Plan, visit dnr.wi.gov and search keywords "CWD response plan." For more information regarding CWD in Wisconsin, search keyword "CWD."